DUBAI’S state-owned ports giant DP World said on Thursday (Aug 17) its first-half profit fell nearly 10 per cent from a year earlier, even as revenue climbed nearly 14 per cent, and flagged an uncertain outlook for trade.

Profit attributable to DP World’s owners in the six months to June was down 9.7 per cent at US$651 million from a year earlier, when the port operator posted record profit of US$721 million.

“While the near-term trade outlook may be uncertain due to macroeconomic and geopolitical factors, the solid financial performance of the first six months positions us well to deliver a steady set of full-year results,” chairman and chief executive Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said in a filing.

“We remain optimistic about the medium to long-term prospects of the industry and DP World’s capacity to consistently generate sustainable returns.”

Revenue in the first half jumped 13.9 per cent year-on-year to just over US$9 billion “as the Group benefitted from the full year contribution of acquisitions,” Yuvraj Narayan, deputy CEO and chief financial officer, said in the statement.

DP World’s consolidated throughput ticked up 0.4 per cent to just over 23 million, of which 11.59 million was in the second quarter, up 0.1 per cent from a year earlier.

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Adjusted gross debt – excluding bank overdrafts and loans from non-controlling shareholders – rose to US$19.2 billion from US$18.5 billion at the end of 2022. Net debt was at US$15.8 billion at the end of June. REUTERS